Surimi - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The surimi market size was valued at USD 5.78 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow from USD 6.14 billion in 2026 to reach USD 8.02 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 5.49% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is Segmented by Source (Tropical, Cold Water, Alaska Pollock, Others), Form (Fresh, Frozen, Processed), Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online Channels, Other Distribution Channels), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Surimi Market Trends and Insights

Rising Demand for Cost-Effective Protein Ingredients

The surimi market is getting stronger support from buyers who need a protein ingredient with lower procurement cost than shellfish and premium meat. Japan’s fish paste production grew 13% through the first 8 months of 2025 from a year earlier, with fried kamaboko and crab-flavored analog products driving much of the increase. The same period saw food manufacturers face higher beef and poultry input costs, which made surimi blends more attractive in convenience foods and prepared products. US frozen surimi exports to India rose in 2025 even as Japan’s import volume fell 33.8%, which showed that bulk block trade was moving toward large and cost-sensitive manufacturing markets. This pattern shows that the surimi market is moving beyond traditional seafood analog uses and becoming a broader industrial protein input where affordability is the main buying reason.

Expansion of Ready-to-Eat Seafood Formats

The surimi market is also growing with the wider shift toward convenient seafood products that need little or no preparation. In the United States, imitation crab sticks kept solid retail and online momentum through 2025 as consumers looked for lower-cost alternatives to fresh shellfish, and Vietnamese exporters saw continued opportunity in these formats. Japan’s fish paste sector recovered sharply in 2025, and output in January through November reached 360,000 metric tons, already above the full-year 2024 total of 358,000 metric tons. Product positioning is also shifting because the Japan Kamaboko Association introduced a Fish Protein Mark, while Suzuhiro Kamaboko promoted fish protein bars and alliance activity tied to sports nutrition. That combination means the surimi market is not only selling convenience and price, it is also moving into better-margin shelf positions tied to protein value and everyday snacking.

Raw Material Volatility in Whitefish and Tropical Species

The surimi market still faces a basic supply problem because its major raw material streams remain exposed to catch swings and pricing pressure. US Alaska pollock surimi production fell 12.6% in 2024 to 170,478 metric tons from 195,107 metric tons in 2023, and Japanese spot prices rose to USD 2,800 to USD 2,900 per metric ton by Q2 2025 after much lower levels in early 2024. Japan also kept the higher import duty on Russian pollock surimi through March 2026, which narrowed substitution choices for some buyers and kept price risk concentrated on certified supply. In tropical species, Indonesian threadfin bream AA-grade surimi was quoted at USD 1,900 to USD 2,300 per metric ton FOB in 2026, and seasonal landing swings continued to complicate procurement planning for contract manufacturers. Major Japanese processors responded with retail price increases of 2% to 10% in early 2025, which reduced margin room and weakened part of the low-cost value case that supports the surimi market

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Growth in Cold-Chain Enabled Retail and E-Commerce
• Broader Use of Surimi in Value-Added Food Manufacturing
• Tightening Sustainability Scrutiny on Fishing Practices

Segment Analysis

Tropical species held 56.49% of the surimi market share in 2025, supported by Southeast Asia’s large supply of threadfin bream, nemipterids, and other low-value tropical whitefish that offer reliable gel strength at competitive processing cost. Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports rose above USD 344 million in 2025, up 15% from the prior year, with South Korea importing USD 83 million, China USD 54 million, and Thailand USD 46 million. That trade pattern kept tropical species in a strong position because processors in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia can serve both regional and export buyers with cost-efficient raw material. Tropical dominance also reflects the wide fit of these species in standard fish cakes, imitation seafood, and convenience products where value matters more than premium whitefish positioning.

Cold water species, led by Alaska pollock and supported by Pacific whiting and related species, are projected to grow at a 6.85% CAGR through 2031. Demand is strongest among Japanese and Korean buyers who want SA-grade and A-grade pollock surimi with stable texture, whiteness, and stronger sustainability credentials. Wild Alaska Pollock’s life cycle assessment showed an 18% improvement in carbon footprint for the 2024 fishing year, lowering emissions to 3.09 kg CO2e per kg protein, which supports premium procurement programs in Europe and North America. The “others” category is still small, but it is gaining attention as the surimi industry looks for underused species that can reduce dependence on the main whitefish streams. Researchers at Universitas Gadjah Mada identified Layang, Belanak, and Kembung across Indonesia’s Fisheries Management Areas as viable surimi raw materials that remain commercially underused. That leaves room for future capacity growth outside the current tropical strongholds in East Java, East Kalimantan, and Lampung.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Source
  • Tropical
  • Cold Water
  • Alaska Pollock
  • Others
• By Form
  • Fresh
  • Frozen
  • Processed
• By Distribution Channels
  • Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
  • Convenience Stores
  • Online Channels
  • Other Distribution channels
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • Rest of North America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Netherlands
    • Sweden
    • Poland
    • Belgium
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • Vietnam
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Singapore
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Peru
    • Colombia
    • Rest of South America
  • Middle East and Africa
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Nigeria
    • Egypt
    • Morocco
    • Turkey
    • Rest of Middle East and Africa

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific captured 45.22% of the surimi market share in 2025 and remained the largest regional center for both production and demand. Japan remained the quality benchmark market, and it imported 38,334 metric tons of US Alaska pollock surimi through H1 2025 . Japan’s fish paste sector also recovered in 2025, with January through November output of 360,000 metric tons, already above the full-year 2024 total of 358,000 metric tons. China continued to widen inland frozen seafood demand through stronger cold-chain infrastructure, which shifted procurement beyond coastal markets. Vietnam added to the region’s strength with surimi and fish cake exports of USD 344 million in 2025, and January 2026 exports reached USD 32 million, up 20% from January 2025.

North America is the fastest-growing regional block, and the regional surimi market size is projected to rise at a 6.43% CAGR through 2031. The region shows a split between tight supply and improving retail demand. US frozen surimi block exports fell 10% in 2025 to 145,000 metric tons, which was the lowest level since 2011, as Japan cut purchases and Russian pollock gained a position in some mid-tier uses. At the same time, imitation crab sticks and surimi snack products kept gaining shelf presence because they remained cheaper than fresh shellfish. Trident Seafoods’ April 2026 acquisition of a surimi processing plant showed that producers still see value in tighter control over Alaska-based capacity. EU CATCH traceability rules with a July 2026 deadline added compliance pressure for exporters while also strengthening the position of certified supply chains in premium retail.

Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa form smaller but important growth corridors for the surimi market. In Europe, Spain’s imports of US Alaska pollock surimi more than doubled in H1 2025, and Vietnam’s EU-directed surimi shipments rose 99% in 2025, which pointed to stronger demand for frozen and convenience-oriented products. In South America, Brazil’s labeling framework requiring clear surimi content disclosure supports product transparency as processed seafood use widens. In the Middle East and Africa, halal certification is becoming a useful access route, and Sugiyo was targeting mid-2026 certification for its crab-stick plant to support export entry into Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern channels.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• HAI THANH CO., LTD
• MEENA Brand Surimi
• APITOON GROUP
• Starfish Co., Ltd.
• Java Seafood
• PT. INDO SEAFOOD
• Southern Marine
• SEAPRIMEXCO
• Zhejiang Longsheng Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.
• PT. Indonesia Bahari Lestari
• Trident Seafoods Corporation
• Gadre Marine Pvt. Ltd.
• Thai Union Group PCL
• Viciunai Group
• Maruha Nichiro Corporation
• Nissui Corporation
• Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.
• Pacific Seafood Group
• Aquamar, Inc.
• Ocean Food Company Ltd.
• Kibun Foods Inc.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support